Metro: Briefs

November 18, 2006|STAFF REPORTS

SOUTH BENDMishawaka murder trial postponed The trial of a Mishawaka man accused of beating his mother to death with a hammer in 2005 has been postponed until next year. Donald Zwolinski, 26, is charged with the murder of Patricia Garcin, 56, inside their home at 113 E. Sixth St. in Mishawaka. Zwolinski has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. Zwolinski's attorney, Mark Lenyo, said at a Friday hearing he needs more time to prepare for trial. The trial, originally scheduled to begin Dec. 4, was moved to April 23. Zwolinski's next court date is March 29. He remains in custody at the St. Joseph County Jail. Zwolinski reportedly told police he killed his mother with the bloody hammer found next to her body, according to court documents, but authorities have not revealed a motive. SOUTH BENDSnyder judicial review hearing delayed A hearing Friday was postponed for two weeks on David Snyder's request for judicial review of a state agency's decision to suspend his real estate license over unpaid child support. The Roseland Town Council vice president filed an action in St. Joseph Superior Court last week to appeal the ruling of an administrative law judge from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration. The suit includes a petition to stay or delay the suspension of Snyder's real estate license while his appeal is pending in court. The FSSA ruling said the license should be suspended because Snyder had failed to comply with court requirements to pay child support he owes. County Prosecutor Michael Dvorak initiated the suspension because Snyder has been tens of thousands of dollars behind for years in court-ordered support payments for two teenage sons in Texas. He is supposed to pay $1,300 a month. Friday's hearing was delayed two weeks to allow an attorney from the Indiana attorney general's office to appear in the case on behalf of the state. The prosecutor's child support division is also a defendant in Snyder's suit. ELKHARTArson suspected in fire where body found A Thursday night fire in which a woman's body was found is being investigated as an arson. An Elkhart police news release said the woman had not been positively identified as of Friday afternoon. An autopsy had been completed, but the coroner was still waiting for lab results, according to the release. Firefighters had determined that the fire was arson by the middle of the afternoon. Elkhart firefighters were called to a mobile home at 1901 Osolo Road, Lot 160, shortly before midnight Thursday night. Police said firefighters found a woman's body and called police. GOSHENVenue change sought in teacher sex case A Goshen teacher charged with seven counts of sexual misconduct has requested a change of venue and a new judge for his trial. Mel Trowbridge, 44, filed the requests last week. The fifth-grade teacher allegedly had sexual relationships with two teenage girls last summer. Previous hearings on the case were in Elkhart Superior Court 3. A hearing to decide on the requests originally was scheduled for Thursday but was postponed until Dec. 7.